Method for producing filter cigarettes

ABSTRACT

A method for producing filter cigarettes, which includes cutting double-length cut tobacco rods into single-length cut tobacco rods, spacing apart the cut tobacco rods in a longitudinally axial manner, inserting a double-length filter plug between longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, connecting, with uniting bands, the double-length filter plugs to the longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, and, prior to the inserting of the double-length filter plug, conveying at least one of the double-length cut tobacco rods and the single-length cut tobacco rods with a transverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods that is smaller than a length of the uniting bands. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of GermanPatent Application No. 10 2005 012 810.6, filed on Mar. 17, 2005, thedisclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method for producing filter cigarettes, inwhich double-length cut tobacco rods are cut into single-length cuttobacco rods and spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner.Subsequently, respectively one double-length filter plug is insertedbetween the pairs of cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinallyaxial manner and the double-length filter plugs are connectedrespectively to the two single-length cut tobacco rods by casing by auniting band.

2. Discussion of Background Information

In filter tipping machines respectively one double-length filter ormouthpiece is inserted between cut tobacco rods spaced apart in alongitudinally axial manner. Subsequently, a glued uniting band isadhered to a cut tobacco rod/mouthpiece/cut tobacco rod group. The glueduniting band is fed via a suction roller of a tipping device to the cuttobacco rod/mouthpiece/cut tobacco rod group conveyed with a defineddividing spacing.

A defined dividing spacing hereby means the transverse axial spacingbetween the conveyed articles or article components.

In particular, the term “dividing spacing” means the transverse axialspacing of the receiving flutes of a conveyor drum, in which flutes thegroups of smokers' products are arranged and transported. The spacing ismeasured from the flute center point to the following center point ofthe fluted conveyor transporting the groups of smokers' products on thesurface. The dividing spacing with a flute conveyor is therefore thetransverse axial spacing or the length of the (circular) arc between(adjacent) flute center points on the circle perimeter on which theflute center points of the flutes are arranged. With a linear flutedconveyor, the dividing spacing corresponds to the linear spacing in thetransverse axial direction between the flute center points or axes.

To finish filter cigarettes conveyed on a filter tipping machine in atransverse axial manner, over time the capacity of the filter tippingmachine with respect to the filter cigarettes produced and dischargedper unit of time has repeatedly sharply increased or had to be adjustedto the increased performance of the upstream rod maker (rod-makingmachine).

It is known from WO-A-2004/002246 to feed components of smokers'products comprising cut tobacco rod/double filter/cut tobacco rod groupsto a tipping apparatus with a predetermined transverse axial spacingfrom one another, so that the tipping paper webs are adhered to thegroups of smokers' products. The predetermined spacing of the groups ofsmokers' products corresponds approximately to the length of the tippingpaper webs fed from the tipping apparatus. The spacing of the groups ofsmokers' products, however, is not and must not be smaller than thelength of the webs.

Moreover, DE-A-44 22 280 describes a method for producing filtercigarettes in which a succession of tobacco products is conveyed with atransverse axial spacing that is approximately equal to the length ofthe respective uniting band and no less than this length.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a high product quality of smokers'products even with higher production outputs of a filter tippingmachine. The expenditure for retrofitting with a garniture change is tobe kept as low as possible, in particular with a change to anothersmokers' product diameter.

A method for producing filter cigarettes includes cutting double-lengthcut tobacco rods are cut into single-length tobacco rods and spacedapart in a longitudinally axial manner. Subsequently, respectively onedouble-length filter plug is inserted between the pairs of cut tobaccorods that are spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner and thedouble-length filter plugs are respectively connected to the twosingle-length cut tobacco rods by casing by a uniting band. Before theinsertion of the filter plug, the double-length cut tobacco rods and/orthe single-length cut tobacco rods are conveyed with a transverse axialspacing to the adjacent cut tobacco rods, which spacing is smaller thanthe length of the uniting, bands.

The invention is based on the concept that for various garnitures, inparticular, diameters, of cut tobacco rods or smokers' products the samedrum operation on a filter tipping machine is used. Thus only the drumshave to be replaced for articles of different sizes in diameter, so thatno change in the conceptual structure of the filter tipping machine andthe geometries of the drums or drum bodies is necessary.

Due to the transverse axial spacing or dividing spacing between two cuttobacco rods or smokers' products conveyed, which spacing is smallerthan the length of the tipping paper webs to be adhered, the productionoutput of the filter tipping machine is increased. The concepts offilter cigarette production on a filter tipping machine were hithertobased on the fact that the transverse axial spacing or dividing spacingis or will be set through the length of the uniting band and theproduction output is thus limited thereby. Now the subject matter of theinvention assumes that the cut tobacco rods or smokers' products areconveyed with a predetermined smaller spacing than the length of theuniting band, before a uniting band is adhered to the groups of smokers'products.

To that end, the transverse axial spacing of the double-length cuttobacco rods or the single-length cut tobacco rods, before the insertionof the filter plugs, is changed or reduced to a transverse axial spacingthat is smaller than the length of the uniting bands. Through thereduction of the spacing before the insertion of the filter plugs, thefilter plugs are also conveyed with a transverse axial spacing which issmaller than the length of the uniting bands during the insertion of thefilter plugs. This also results in a gentler handling of the filterplugs, since the filter plugs in the drum operation are conveyed at alower speed during the transfer.

Furthermore, it is preferred when the transverse axial spacing of thecut tobacco rods of double or single length is reduced after thetransfer of the cut tobacco rods from a rod maker to a filter tippingmachine.

In particular, before the reduction of the transverse axial spacing, thecut tobacco rods of double or single length are conveyed with atransverse axial spacing that is the same as or greater than the lengthof the uniting bands.

According to a preferred further development of the invention, thedouble-length filter plugs during insertion between the pairs of cuttobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner are conveyedwith a transverse axial spacing from their adjacent filter plugs, whichspacing is smaller than the length of the uniting bands. This results ina gentle handling and conveying of the filter plugs during insertion ofthe filter plugs between the pairs of cut tobacco rods.

In another embodiment, during the insertion of the double-length filterplugs between the pairs of cut tobacco rods spaced apart in alongitudinally axial manner, the transverse axial spacing between thepairs of cut tobacco rods is increased. During the formation of the cuttobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups, for example, on aconveyor drum, an increase in spacing is thus achieved. During theassembly of the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups, forexample, the pairs of cut tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinallyaxial manner are accelerated during the transfer to an assembly drum sothat the transverse axial spacing from the trailing pair of cut tobaccorods is respectively increased.

It is proposed in an alternative embodiment that, after the insertion ofthe double-length filter plugs between the pairs of cut tobacco rodsspaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner, and thus only after theassembly of the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups inanother or following transport step, the transverse axial spacingbetween the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups formed isincreased. The increase of the transverse axial spacing can take place,e.g., after the assembly of the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobaccorod groups during the transport of the groups of smokers' productsformed on the assembly drum so that the groups of smokers' products aretransferred with a greater spacing to following conveyor organs.

To this end, it is further advantageous if, after the increase of thetransverse axial spacing, the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobaccorod groups are conveyed with a transverse axial spacing that is equal toor smaller than the length of the uniting bands.

In particular, the cut tobacco rods and/or the filter plugs are conveyedwith a transverse axial spacing of 18 mm to 28 mm, in particular 18 mmto 22 mm. As a rule these spacings are smaller than the length of theusual uniting bands, which are typically larger than 32 mm.

Furthermore, the method is further developed in that the cut tobaccorod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups are respectively fed as articlesof a first and second group to a tipping device and respectivelyprovided with a uniting band. Half of the articles (first group with cuttobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups) are thus respectivelyprovided with uniting bands by one tipping apparatus and the other half(second group with cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups)are thus respectively provided with uniting bands by another tippingapparatus.

Moreover, it is advantageous if the articles of the first and secondgroup are fed to a joint rolling device and the articles of the firstand second group are wrapped by the uniting bands in the rolling device.A subsequent single-lane rolling of the articles (cut tobacco rod/filterplug/cut tobacco rod groups) renders possible a simple design with acompact construction at the same time. By providing a single rollingdevice for all the groups of articles, material and costs are saved.

To this end, the articles of the first and second group are first fed toa first tipping device, where the articles of the first group areprovided with a uniting band by the first tipping device. Subsequently,the articles of the first and second group are fed on different conveyorpaths to the joint rolling device, whereby the articles of the secondgroup are fed to a second tipping device on their conveyor path andprovided with a uniting band.

In particular, the conveyor speed of the articles of the first and/orsecond group on a conveyor before and/or after the transfer of therespective uniting band are varied. An adjustment of the speedconditions of the transported articles for tipping feed is thus possiblethrough a targeted control of the speed of the tobacco articles. Theadjustment can take place before and/or after the sticking process orthe adhesion of the uniting band, regardless of the speed in theremaining production flow and the paper travel speed in the filtertipping machine. During the speed change, the tobacco articles or cuttobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups are combined and movedindividually, in pairs or any desired multiple. Not only does the speedthereby change, but also the spacing between the groups of tobaccoproducts.

In an advantageous embodiment, the articles are braked in the firstand/or second group before the transfer of the uniting band.

Furthermore, the articles of the first and/or second group areaccelerated after the transfer of the uniting band.

Another improvement is achieved in that the uniting bands after thetransfer are partially applied to the articles of the first and/orsecond group. A folding star or a so-called rolling star is provided forthe application of the one free end of a uniting band to a tobaccoarticle. In particular, the leading free end of the uniting bands isapplied to the articles.

In a further development, the articles of the second group are removedfrom the joint conveyor drum for the articles of the first and secondgroup. The articles of the first and second group are hereby fed beforethe removal of the articles of the second group to the tipping apparatusfor the first group.

Furthermore, advantageously the articles of the first and second groupare arranged alternately on a conveyor drum during the combination ofthe article groups so that the articles are fed to the joint rollingdevice.

In particular, the uniting bands are transferred to the articles of thefirst and/or second group at a constant speed.

The present invention is directed to a method for producing filtercigarettes. The method includes cutting double-length cut tobacco rodsinto single-length cut tobacco rods, spacing apart the cut tobacco rodsin a longitudinally axial manner, inserting a double-length filter plugbetween longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, connecting,with uniting bands, the double-length filter plugs to the longitudinallyaxial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, and, prior to the inserting of thedouble-length filter plug, conveying at least one of the double-lengthcut tobacco rods and the single-length cut tobacco rods with atransverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods that is smallerthan a length of the uniting bands.

According to a feature of the invention, the transverse axial spacingfrom adjacent cut tobacco rods before the insertion of the filter plugscan be changed to a transverse axial spacing that is smaller than thelength of the uniting bands.

Further, the transverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods maybe reduced after the transfer of the cut tobacco rods from a cigaretterod maker to a filter tipping machine. The at least one of thedouble-length and the single-length cut tobacco rods before thereduction of the transverse axial spacing can be conveyed with atransverse axial spacing that is the same as or greater than the lengthof the uniting bands.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, during theinsertion of the double-length filter plug between the longitudinallyaxial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, the process may include conveyingthe double-length filter plugs with a transverse axial spacing fromtheir adjacent filter plugs that is smaller than the length of theuniting bands.

Moreover, during the insertion of the double-length filter plugs betweenthe longitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, the transverseaxial spacing between the pairs of cut tobacco rods can be increased.

After the insertion of the double-length filter plugs between thelongitudinally axial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, the transverse axialspacing between the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groupsmay be increased. Further, after the increase of the transverse axialspacing between the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups,the process can further include conveying the cut tobacco rod/filterplug/cut tobacco rod groups with a transverse axial spacing that is thesame as or smaller than the length of the uniting bands.

In accordance with feature of the instant invention, at least one of thecut tobacco rods and the double-length filter plugs may be conveyed witha transverse axial spacing of 18 mm to 28 mm, and preferably with atransverse axial spacing of 18 mm to 22 mm.

According to still another feature of the invention, the method canfurther include feeding the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rodgroups as articles of a first and second group to a tipping device andproviding the articles of the first and second groups with unitingbands. The method may also include feeding the articles of the first andsecond group to a joint rolling device, and wrapping the articles of thefirst and second group with the uniting bands in the rolling device.

In accordance with a further feature of the instant invention, themethod can include feeding the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobaccorod groups as articles of a first and second group, feeding the articlesof the first and second group to a first tipping device, in which thearticles of the first group are provided with a uniting band, feedingthe articles of the first and second group on different conveyor pathsto a joint rolling device, and feeding the articles of the second groupto a second tipping device, in which the articles of the second groupare provided with uniting bands.

In accordance with still yet another feature of the present invention, aconveyor speed of the articles of the first and second group at leastone of before and after a transfer point at which the uniting bands areprovided may varied. Further, the articles of the first and second groupcan be braked before being provided with the uniting bands. The articlesof the first and second group can be accelerated after being providedwith the uniting bands. Moreover, when the uniting bands are provided tothe articles of the first and second groups, the uniting bands can bepartially applied to the articles of the first and second group. Stillfurther, the articles of the first group can be are removed from a jointconveyor drum for the articles of the first and second group. Thearticles of the first and second group before the uniting bands areprovided to the first group can be arranged alternately on a conveyordrum. The articles of the first and second group may be arrangedalternately on a conveyor drum during a combined conveyance of thearticle groups. Further, the uniting bands can be transferred to thearticles of the first and/or second group at a constant speed.

Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention maybe ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanyingdrawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described in the detailed descriptionwhich follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way ofnon-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention,in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a filter tipping machine with two tipping paper unitsin a diagrammatic front view in section;

FIG. 2 illustrates an arrangement of drums according to the invention insection;

FIG. 3 illustrates another drum arrangement according to the inventionin section; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a third drum arrangement according to the inventionaccording to a preferred exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention onlyand are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be themost useful and readily understood description of the principles andconceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attemptis made to show structural details of the present invention in moredetail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of thepresent invention, the description taken with the drawings makingapparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of thepresent invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings respectively the same or same kind of elements and/orparts are provided with the same reference numbers so that a renewedintroduction has been respectively omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a filter tipping machine in a front view in section,whereby the filter tipping machine via a drum arrangement T for feedingcut tobacco rods receives cut tobacco rods of double unit length from adiagrammatically drawn cigarette rod maker P. A cigarette rod maker isknown under the label “PROTOS” from the owner of the instant patentapplication.

On their conveyor path to an assembly drum 21, the cut tobacco rods ofdouble unit length are cut and spread. Double-length filter plugs aretransported on the assembly drum 21 via another drum arrangement M, andthe filter plugs are respectively inserted between two cut tobacco rodsspaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner. A series of cut tobaccorod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups arranged one behind the other ina transverse axial manner is thus formed on the assembly drum 21.

The assembled groups of articles are transferred from the assembly drum21 to a conveyor drum 22 and transported to a tipping apparatus 10.1 fora first group 50 to assembled cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobaccorod groups. In DE-C-39 18 137, the disclosure of which is expresslyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety, a tipping apparatus isdescribed in detail.

A tipping paper strip 11.1 glued and conveyed in the tipping apparatus10.1 is cut by the knives of a cutting drum 13.1 into tipping webs oruniting bands 40.1. The cut uniting bands 40.1 are transferred oradhered to the article groups of a first group 50 on the conveyor drum22.

European patent application EP-A-1 466 535 describes a method forcombining components of smokers' products, whereby products of a firstand products of a second group are indicated in the drawings (cf. FIG.2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 a, FIG. 4 b). In this European patent application, theproducts of the first group, comprising respectively cut tobaccorod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups, are labeled with referencenumber 50. Products of the second group, likewise comprising cut tobaccorod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups are labeled with reference number60. The disclosure of the cited EP 1 466 535 is expressly incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

After the adhering of the uniting bands 40.1 to the articles 50 of thefirst group, the articles of the first (50) and the second (60) groupare transported further, whereby the front end of the uniting band 40.1projects on the article groups 40.1. In FIGS. 2 through 4 the articlegroups of the first group are labeled with reference number 50 and thearticle groups of the second group with reference number 60. The unitingbands for the article group 50 are labeled with the reference number40.1.

The articles 50, 60 are conveyed to an application and removal drum 24so that through the application and removal drum 24 the article groups60 not provided with a uniting band are removed and the front end of theuniting band 40.1 is applied respectively to the articles 50. Theapplication and removal drum 24 thus has combined at the same time thefunction of a folding star (for the article groups 50) and of a removaldrum (for the article groups 60).

The application and removal drum 24 transfers the removed articles 60 ofthe second group to a conveyor drum 25 that transports the articles 60of the second group to a tipping apparatus 10.2 in which a tipping paperstrip 11.2 is conveyed. The second tipping apparatus 10.2 has a bladedrum 13.2 that cuts the tipping paper strip 11.2 in cooperation with asuction roller 12.2.

The uniting bands cut off from the tipping paper strip 11.2 aretransferred and adhered to the tobacco articles or cut tobaccorod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups 60. The front end of the unitingband is subsequently applied to the articles 60 on the conveyor drum 25by a folding star 23.2. In this connection reference is expressly madeto FIG. 3 of European patent application EP-A-1 466 535 in which thisprocess is shown and described.

The conveyor drum 25 conveys the articles 60 of the second group to adrum 26. At the same time the conveyor drum 26 accepts the articles 50of the first group transported further on the conveyor drum 22 so thatthe articles of the first (50) and the second (60) group are arrangedalternately on the drum.

Subsequently, the articles of the first and second groups 50, 60 aretransported to a rolling device 27 with a rolling block so that theuniting bands are fully wound around the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cuttobacco rod groups 50, 60. The completely wound articles 50, 60 aresubsequently transferred to a conveyor drum 28 and a further conveyordrum 29 and made available for the further processing operation on afilter tipping machine. In particular filter cigarettes of single unitlength are produced from the double-length filter cigarettes.

FIGS. 2 through 4 show exemplary embodiments for the drum arrangements Tand M (cf. FIG. 1) according to the invention, by means of which drumarrangements it is possible to transport smokers' products or cuttobacco rods or groups of smokers' product components with a transverseaxial spacing to the adjacent article components, whereby the transverseaxial spacing is smaller than the length of the uniting bands that arecut off from the tipping paper strips 11.1 or 11.2.

To feed double-length filter plugs, filter rods are removed from amagazine by a removal drum 200 and cut once or several times by one ormore cutting knives 205 on the removal drum 200 and transferred to astaggering drum 210. On the staggering drum 210 the cut filter plugs arestaggered and transferred to a pusher drum 220 on which the filter plugsare formed into a row of filter plugs arranged one behind the other in atransverse axial manner. Subsequently, the filter plugs are transferredfrom the pusher drum 220 to an accelerating drum 230, so that the filterplugs are deposited on a feed drum 150.

With the drum arrangement T, the double-length cut tobacco rodstransferred from a filter rod maker (cf. reference P in FIG. 1) areaccepted by a transfer drum 100 and transported to a braking drum 110.With the transfer of the double-length cut tobacco rods from thetransfer drum 100 to the braking drum 110, the transverse axial spacingbetween the double-length cut tobacco rods is reduced to a size that issmaller than the length of the uniting bands that are produced on thetipping apparatuses (cf. FIG. 1, reference number 10.1, 10.2).

Subsequently, the double-length cut tobacco rods are transferred fromthe braking drum 110 to a cutter drum 120 on which the double-length cuttobacco rods are cut in the middle by a cutting knife 125 so that cuttobacco rods of single unit length are produced on the cutter drum 120.The cut tobacco rods are transferred from the cutter drum 120 to aspreader drum 130 on which the cut tobacco rods of single length arespaced apart in a longitudinally axial manner, through which a gap isproduced between the pairs of cut tobacco rods spaced apart in alongitudinally axial manner into which subsequently a filter plug isinserted.

Following the spreader drum 130, the cut tobacco rods spaced apart in alongitudinally axial manner are transferred to a conveyor drum 140 thattransfers the cut tobacco rods to the feed drum 150 so that articlegroups comprising cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups areformed on the feed drum 150. The groups of smokers' products formed aretransferred from the feed drum to the conveyor drum 22 so that unitingbands are respectively adhered to the groups of smokers' products in themanner described above.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, after transfer from thetransfer drum 100 to the braking drum 110 until the transfer from theconveyor drum 140 to the feed drum 150, the cut tobacco rods areconveyed with a shortened transverse axial spacing that is smaller thanthe length of the uniting bands (e.g., 40.1).

With the transfer of the single-length cut tobacco rods from theconveyor drum 140 to the feed drum 150, the transverse axial spacingbetween the cut tobacco rods is increased by accelerating the conveyedcut tobacco rods during the transfer so that the transverse axialspacing of the cut tobacco rods and the filter plugs on the feed drum150 is greater than the transverse axial spacing of the conveyed cuttobacco rods on the drum 140 or the filter plugs on the accelerator drum230.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cut tobacco rods or thefilter plugs, as already stated above, are transported via the drumarrangement M or T. In this embodiment—in contrast to the exemplaryembodiment in FIG. 2—the single-length cut tobacco rods are notaccelerated during the transfer from the removal drum 140 to the feeddrum 150, but are transferred to the feed drum 150 with the sameshortened transverse axial spacing. To this end the filter plugs arelikewise conveyed by the accelerator drum 230 to the feed drum 150 withthe same transverse axial spacing as the cut tobacco rods in the areabetween the braking drum 110 up to the removal drum 140.

After the formation of cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rodgroups on the feed drum 150, the spaces from the neighbors in thetransverse axial direction are increased so that during the transfer ofthe cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups from the feeddrum 150 to the conveyor drum 22, the article groups are transferred inthe transverse axial direction with an increased spacing, whereby theincreased transverse axial spacing is greater than the length of theuniting bands that are adhered to the groups of smokers' productcomponents.

In particular with the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3 the feed drum 150is embodied as a drum in which the transverse axial spacing between thearticles conveyed can be altered. Preferably the feed drum 150 isembodied with cam-controlled arms or the like, through which thetransverse axial spacing between the articles conveyed can be altered.In the conveyor area between the acceptance of the cut tobacco rods bythe removal drum 140 up to the transfer of the cut tobacco rod/filterplug/cut tobacco rod groups formed to the conveyor drum 22, thetransverse axial spacing is increased. In the area after the transfer ofthe articles to the conveyor drum 22 up to the acceptance of the filterplugs by the accelerator drum 230 the spaces between the empty seats arereduced so that the filter plugs conveyed with constant spacing areinserted.

Alternatively, in the area after the transfer of the articles to theconveyor drum 22 up to the acceptance of the filter plugs by theaccelerator drum 230, the spaces between the empty seats is first keptconstant and reduced after the acceptance of the filer plugs by theaccelerator drum 230.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the cut tobacco rods in thearea between the acceptance of the double-length cut tobacco rods on thebraking drum 110 up to the transfer of the groups of smokers' products60 to the application and removal drum 24 are conveyed with a constanttransverse axial spacing that is smaller than the length of the unitingbands 40.1 that are adhered to the groups of tobacco articles 50.

Only after the removal of the article groups 60 from the conveyor drum22 is the spacing of the groups of smokers' products 50 increased on theconveyor drum 22.

In FIGS. 2 through 4 the areas of the different dividing spacings areshown diagrammatically.

The transfer area is labeled with reference number U in the Figs. Afterthe transfer of the cut tobacco rods from the transfer drum to thebraking drum 110, the cut tobacco rods are conveyed with a transverseaxial spacing that is smaller than the length of the uniting bandsadhered or to be adhered. This area is labeled with reference number B1.

After the transverse axial spacing between the adjacent article groupsor cut tobacco rods has been increased, the smokers' product componentsare conveyed with a transverse axial spacing from one another that isgreater than the transverse axial spacing in the area B₁. This transportarea is labeled with the reference number B₂.

Preferably the transverse axial spacing in the transport area B₁ has asize of 18 mm to 28 mm, in particular 18 mm to 22 mm and in thetransport area B₂ a size of 24 mm to 32 mm.

Through the present invention a high product quality of smokers'products is achieved with a filter tipping machine, whereby the drumarrangements T are embodied such that numerous different garnitures, inparticular diameters, of cut tobacco rods or smokers' products areconveyed. The expenditure for a retrofit during a garniture change,preferably during a change to a different smokers' product diameter,with such a filter tipping machine is thus kept low.

It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely forthe purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limitingof the present invention. While the present invention has been describedwith reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that thewords which have been used herein are words of description andillustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made,within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and asamended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention in its aspects. Although the present invention has beendescribed herein with reference to particular means, materials andembodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to theparticulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends toall functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as arewithin the scope of the appended claims. List of Reference Numbers 10.1Tipping apparatus 10.2 Tipping apparatus 11.1 Tipping paper strip 11.2Tipping paper strip 12.1 Suctioning drum 12.2 Suctioning drum 13.1 Bladedrum 13.1 Blade drum 13.2 Blade drum 21 Assembly drum 22 Conveyor drum23.2 Folding star 24 Application and removal drum 25 Conveyor drum 26Drum 27 Rolling device 28 Drum 29 Drum 40.1 Uniting band 50 Group oftobacco articles (cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod group 60Group of tobacco articles (cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rodgroup 100 Transfer drum 110 Braking drum 120 Cutter drum 125 Cuttingknife 130 Spreader drum 140 Removal drum 150 Feed drum 200Removal/cutter drum 205 Cutting knife 210 Staggering drum 220 Pusherdrum 230 Accelerator drum M Drum arrangement (filter plugs) T Drumarrangement (cut tobacco rods) P Cigarette rod maker U Transfer area B₁Transport area B₂ Transport area

1. A method for producing filter cigarettes, comprising: cuttingdouble-length cut tobacco rods into single-length cut tobacco rods;spacing apart the cut tobacco rods in a longitudinally axial manner;inserting a double-length filter plug between longitudinally axialspaced apart cut tobacco rods; connecting, with uniting bands, thedouble-length filter plugs to the longitudinally axial spaced apart cuttobacco rods; and prior to the inserting of the double-length filterplug, conveying at least one of the double-length cut tobacco rods andthe single-length cut tobacco rods with a transverse axial spacing fromadjacent cut tobacco rods that is smaller than a length of the unitingbands.
 2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transverseaxial spacing from adjacent cut tobacco rods before the insertion of thefilter plugs is changed to a transverse axial spacing that is smallerthan the length of the uniting bands.
 3. The method in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the transverse axial spacing from adjacent cut tobaccorods is reduced after the transfer of the cut tobacco rods from acigarette rod maker to a filter tipping machine.
 4. The method inaccordance with claim 3, wherein the at least one of the double-lengthand the single-length cut tobacco rods before the reduction of thetransverse axial spacing are conveyed with a transverse axial spacingthat is the same as or greater than the length of the uniting bands. 5.The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein during the insertion ofthe double-length filter plug between the longitudinally axial spacedapart cut tobacco rods, the process further comprises conveying thedouble-length filter plugs with a transverse axial spacing from theiradjacent filter plugs that is smaller than the length of the unitingbands.
 6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein during theinsertion of the double-length filter plugs between the longitudinallyaxial spaced apart cut tobacco rods, the transverse axial spacingbetween the pairs of cut tobacco rods is increased.
 7. The method inaccordance with claim 1, wherein after the insertion of thedouble-length filter plugs between the longitudinally axial spaced apartcut tobacco rods, the transverse axial spacing between the cut tobaccorod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups is increased.
 8. The method inaccordance with claim 7, wherein after the increase of the transverseaxial spacing between the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rodgroups, the process further comprises conveying the cut tobaccorod/filter plug/cut tobacco rod groups with a transverse axial spacingthat is the same as or smaller than the length of the uniting bands. 9.The method in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least one of the cuttobacco rods and the double-length filter plugs are conveyed with atransverse axial spacing of 18 mm to 28 mm.
 10. The method in accordancewith claim 9, wherein the at least one of the cut tobacco rods and thedouble-length filter plugs are conveyed with a transverse axial spacingof 18 mm to 22 mm.
 11. The method in accordance with claim 7, furthercomprising feeding the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cut tobacco rodgroups as articles of a first and second group to a tipping device andproviding the articles of the first and second groups with unitingbands.
 12. The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:feeding the articles of the first and second group to a joint rollingdevice; and wrapping the articles of the first and second group with theuniting bands in the rolling device.
 13. The method in accordance withclaim 7, further comprising: feeding the cut tobacco rod/filter plug/cuttobacco rod groups as articles of a first and second group; feeding thearticles of the first and second group to a first tipping device, inwhich the articles of the first group are provided with a uniting band;feeding the articles of the first and second group on different conveyorpaths to a joint rolling device; and feeding the articles of the secondgroup to a second tipping device, in which the articles of the secondgroup are provided with uniting bands.
 14. The method in accordance withclaim 11, wherein a conveyor speed of the articles of the first andsecond group at least one of before and after a transfer point at whichthe uniting bands are provided is varied.
 15. The method in accordancewith claim 11, wherein the articles of the first and second group arebraked before being provided with the uniting bands.
 16. The method inaccordance with claim 11, wherein the articles of the first and secondgroup are accelerated after being provided with the uniting bands. 17.The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein when the uniting bandsare provided to the articles of the first and second groups, the unitingbands are partially applied to the articles of the first and secondgroup.
 18. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the articlesof the first group are removed from a joint conveyor drum for thearticles of the first and second group.
 19. The method in accordancewith claim 11, wherein the articles of the first and second group beforethe uniting bands are provided to the first group are arrangedalternately on a conveyor drum.
 20. The method in accordance with claim11, wherein the articles of the first and second group are arrangedalternately on a conveyor drum during a combined conveyance of thearticle groups.
 21. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein theuniting bands are transferred to the articles of the first and/or secondgroup at a constant speed.